Steam-reducing valve.



PATBNTBD SEPT. a, 1903.

` nofws-,50s. I,

" L. B. FULTON.

.sTLAM REDUGLNG VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED Dnc. a, 1902.

Tins on., PHomLnjma., WASHINGTON, D. c.

lio. rasees.

UNITED STAT-ns LOUIS B. FULTON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A SSIGNOR TO TI-IE Patented September 8 190.3;1

CI-IAPLIN -FULTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

STEAM-,REDUCING VALVE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 738,608, dated September 8, 1903.

Application iiled December 8, 1902.` Serial No. 134.355. (No model.)

y ToaZZ whom, it may concern:

, tion between the diaphragm of the valve-un seating mechanism and the delivery side of a steam-controlling valve, so that a nonmetallic diaphragm may be employed and the operation of the device rendered quick and positive.

A further object is to lprovide against the devicebeingrenderedinoperativein the event of the diaphragm being punctured or otherwise damaged.

Theinvention will be hereinafter fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings,iFigure lis a vertical longitudinalsectional view. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are enlarged cross-sectional views on lines 2 2, 3 3, and 4 4., respectively, Fig. 1. Referring tothefdrawings, 1 designates a t valve-casing having the steam-inlet opening 2 and the outlet-opening 3, the communication between these two openings being controlled'by a valve 4, havingupper and lower stems 5 and 6, the former extending upwardly into a plug 7. This plugis screwed into the casing and at its lower end has a perforatedv cylindrical extension 8, which entirely surn rounds the valve. By this perforated extension the steam is made to act directly against the valve under -uniforin pressure at all points, thereby relieving the same from any binding action against `one side.

9 designates the diaphragm, of non-metallic material, secured between the hanged portions of a two-part casing 10, the upper part of such casing being directly connected to the lower portion of the valve-casing on the outlet side thereof by an extended tubular portion 12, thus forming a direct communicationl between the upper part of the diaphragm` chamber and the outlet-side of the steamf valve casing and providing for the continement of sufficient water of condensation to prevent the same being blown out by the steam and avoiding any likelihoodof the latter contacting directly with the non-metallic diaphragm.. The latter is preferably made of leather or rubber, with the result that the action of the device is rendered quick and certain. To the lowerpart of the casing 10 is secured a depending cylindrical case 13, wherein is a spring 14, which tends to hold a plate 15 tight against the under side of the diaphragm. This plate 15 fits snug within a counterbored recess 16 in the lower part of casing 10, moving therein like a'piston, and is further guided in its movements by a depending tailpiece 17 extended down within the coils of the spring. The tension of the latter is regulated by an adjustable screw 18` in the bottom of the case, engaging a block 19 in the end of thespring.

2O designates a rod extended longitudinally through the tubular portion 12 and at its lower end has a plate-like portion 2l, which rests directly upon the diaphragm imme diately above the piston-like plate'l.. t At its upper reduced end this rod projects into the valve-casing 1 and has a central bore to 4accommodate the stem 6 of valve 4. The rod is guided in its up anddown movements by perforated flanges 22 and is further held in direct line by a spring 23,acting against valve 4. By means of the plate 15 having a pistonlike action within its chamber or recess 16 the operation of the device will not be impaired even should the diaphragm be punctured or otherwise damaged, as the plate on tlhelower end of rod 20 is always held in tight relation to the plate 15.

The tension against the -u nder side of the diaphragm exerted by the spring 14 isalways greater than the steam-pressure against the top of the steam-valve, and hence normally the tension of such spring 14 will tend to hold the steam-valve open; but in practice water of condensation within the diaphragm-chamber and the tubular portion 12 is acted upon by the steam-pressure on the outlet side ofthe soV valve-casing-that is to say, when the desired pressure has been secured in the parts or machines to which steam is being supplied any excess acts upon the column of water and forces the diaphragm downwardly as against the tension of spring 14 and allows the steamr controlling valve to be instantly seated under thedirect action of the steam. Just as soon, however, as the pressure Aon the outlet side becomes less than that fr which the valveunseating spring 14 is set, such spring overcomes the pressure in the diaphragm-chambe'r and effects the immediate unseating of the steam-valve. Thus the operation is continued, the steam-valve being alternately seated and unseated,according as the pressure on the outlet side of its casing is greater or less than that for whichv its controlling-spring is set. l

The advantages of my invention are apparent. By reason of the fact that the steam cannot come in actual contact with the diaphragm, butl must actfon a column of Water of condensation resting on the latter, I amenabled to make such diaphragm of rubber or leather, the same being protected from injury by the presence ot' the water. As before pointed out, should any damage occur to the diaphragm the device will continue to operate, under proper conditions, by reason of the fact that the Valve controlling rod is supported directly by the piston-like plate 15.

I claim as my inventionn The combination with the casing having inlet and outlet openings with a communicating port between them, and an opening in line with such port,of a val ve designed to be seated against such port, a plug fitted in said opening witnesses. x

LOUIS B. FULTON. Witnesses:

GRAFTON C. MCGILL, FRANCIS S. MAGUIRE. 

